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TWENTY-FIVE

ALEJANDRA

Our weekend was a blur of household chores, Gage sitting me down to go over finances, Zoe, and more sex.

I woke up to him inside me, whispering sweet things in my ear about us having a bunch of kids and how he can’t wait to see me pregnant with his babies.

He didn’t bother putting a pillow under my hips before getting dressed for PT because I told him I’m supposed to be starting my period.

I stay in bed until my bladder demands I get up.

I feel crampy but not like my period cramps. These are all on one side and not strong. In the bathroom, the box of tests sits on the counter, and I wonder if maybe it was just too soon to test. What other symptoms come with early pregnancy?

I stare at the test and have a silent debate with myself about if I should take another one.

Fuck it.

I grab the box and pull one out, unwrap it, and lift Gage's shirt to sit. With the cap on, I slip it back into the package and wash up. I leave it while I go grab some clothes from the closet and do a quick check on Zoe, who’s still sleeping. Has it been three minutes?

If it’s negative, don’t be upset.

I take a deep breath and exhale, pick up the wrapper and slide the test out and I drop it on the counter. One dark line and one line that wasn’t there the other day. My hands shake as I pick the test up and bring it closer to my face.

“ ?Mierda!,” I whisper.

I’m pregnant.

What the fuck do I do now? Gage is gone for the day and I don’t want to just text him this kind of news. Zoe’s fussing on the baby monitor pulls me out of my spiraling thoughts and I leave the test on the counter, washing again before I go get my daughter ready for the day.

Entering the nursery, Zoe smiles when she sees me and any worrying thoughts that had been building fade.

I can do this. We can do this, Gage and I.

“Good morning, Princesa . Mommy has a secret to tell you.” I change her diaper and get her dressed for the day, picking her up and kissing her face. “You’re going to be a big sister.”

Zoe roots on my face, getting my face all wet, and I laugh. “Okay, let’s get you fed. Then maybe you and Mommy can go shopping for something to surprise Daddy with the news.”

Gage

Have a good day today, Hermosa.

You have no idea how good of a day we are going to have today.

Ale

Okay, this stroller is a pain in the ass with how small my trunk is. Totally something I didn’t consider.

Zoe is in her car seat watching me struggle to fit the stroller into the back of my Corolla.

Ale

It won’t fit.

Gage

The front wheel comes off. Maybe you just need to take it off?

I snap a picture of the stroller hanging halfway out of the trunk and send it to him.

Gage’s name and picture pop up on the screen and I hit accept. His face shows up, and he has a smile on his face. “Yeah, there is no way that’s going to fit. I was going to make a joke about making it fit but… there’s no hope for that.”

“It’s fine. I’ll just use the carrier while I’m out.”

“I can bring the truck and swap with you.” He offers, then props the phone up.

He’s busy, and I don’t want him to get in trouble for leaving.

“No, it’s fine, Carino . We’ll be okay with the carrier for today.” I hear him mumbling something to someone, and then he picks the phone back up.

“Are you opposed to trading it in for a bigger car?” The clicking of a mouse in the background and the mumbled words of someone else barely come through. “Morales says his wife loves her smaller SUV. Or we can just get a full-sized one,” he winks at me and I feel the heat rush to my cheeks.

“Yeah, I’d be good with that. Is that something we can afford?” Thinking about how now we will have another little human in our lives in nine-ish months.

Gage chuckles. “Yeah, Hermosa , we’ll be fine. Your husband has been really smart with money over the years.”

“Okay, well, I’ll let you get back to work. Have a good day, amor .” I crouch next to Zoe and show her Gage on the screen. “Say bye, Daddy. See you later.”

“Bye, Princesa . Be good for Mommy today. I love you.”

Looking at him, he purses his lips in a kiss, and I do the same. “ Te amo, Carino. ”

“Love you too, pretty girl. I’ll see you for dinner. Have a good day and for the love of God, eat something.”

“Yes, sir.” I wink and watch his jaw tense, and he smiles, shaking his head.

“See you at home, Hermosa .”

Gage ends the video call and all I can think is, I wonder what I’m going to get for that when he gets home.

Zoe and I make a day of hitting the stores, looking for the perfect way to tell Gage that he’s going to be a daddy again.

Sitting in the car after hitting up two different stores.

We found the most adorable “Big Sister” outfit, and I got stuff to make a special dinner.

Gage loves steak, so I got some rib-eyes to throw on the grill. Then I got all the stuff to make flan.

Okay, so maybe the flan is for me, because it sounds absolutely amazing right now.

The BBQ is going and I have the steaks on the cutting board, seasoned and ready to go on; the potatoes are done and so are the veggies.

All I’m waiting for is the flan to finish setting.

Zoe is on the play mat on the floor with some toys, making all sorts of noise.

She’s in the outfit and ready for Gage to pick her up when he gets in the house.

The garage door opens and I hear his truck backing up into the driveway.

“Daddy’s home, Princesa . Are you ready?” No response. Well, I’m as ready as I can be.

“ Hermosa? Princesa? ?Dónde están mis chicas?” Gage calls through the front of the house, and Zoe perks up, kicking out her feet at the sound of her father’s voice.

“Kitchen,” I shout back. I try so hard to keep the smile that keeps fighting to stay plastered on my face. Keep it together, Ale. Don’t give it away.

“Did you girls have a fun day today?” He walks in, and he’s all sweaty in his undershirt, pants, and boots.

Desire hits me fast and hard as I just appreciate every inch of him. Mind out of the gutter, Ale.

“Yeah, we did. Hot today on base?” I motion to his shirt.

“Fucking brutal.” He grips the hem of his shirt and pulls it over his head. “I swear it’s going to be the worst summer.”

God, are you trying to test me? Because my husband, shirtless right now, is really, really cruel.

“Oh, shit! Are we having steaks tonight?” He sees the meat on the counter and I pull myself together.

“Yep, actually, will you stay with Zoe while I put them on really quick?” I grab the board and he walks over to the sliding door to open it for me.

“Hey,” and I pause and turn towards him.

Gage leans in and gives me a tender kiss. “I’ve missed you.”

I roll my eyes. “You were gone for what, eleven hours?”

I missed him, too.

He knows it too.

“Eleven hours without you and Zoe. So basically the worst kind of torture.”

He closes the door behind me and that's when the nerves hit.

Pick her up and hold her.

Notice the shirt.

The steaks sizzle as they hit the grate and with my back turned to the back door of the house, I hear the door slide open and Gage’s boots hit the wood deck.

Silently he crosses the space that separates us.

Zoe blows wet raspberries and all I can do is smile as I absent-mindedly watch the meat cook.

“Ale,” his voice cracks and I can tell he’s holding back. “ Hermosa , turn around. Please.”

I let out a breath and turn around. His eyes glisten and they stare into mine. “Yeah, Carino ?”

“Are you…” He clears his throat. “ ?Estás embarazada con mi bebé?”

I smile, feeling a single tear fall from my eye. “Yes.”

Gage is on me in a split second, his lips on mine. Zoe is between us, squealing and trying to grab ahold of me. “The test the other day… I don’t understand.”

“So, when the test came back positive, I looked it up. If it’s early, test first thing in the morning. Something about later in the day there could be fewer hormones. But I need to see the doctor to be sure.” I caress his face, using my thumb to wipe his tear away.

“Sorry, I didn’t think I’d be this emotional.” He chuckles, kissing the top of Zoe’s head and then my lips again.

“Don’t be. You know you can cry, amor . To feel whatever you need to feel.” I reach for his hand and press his palm to my cheek. “I’m happy too.”

Everything I’ve ever wanted in life is coming to fruition, and I can’t wait to share it all with Gage and Zoe.